Flotation cell
Wemco Ltd
Category
Machinery and industrial devices
Date
Unknown
Materials
Rubber, Steel
Measurements
1.82 x 2.04 m*; 4.59 m* (Length)
Place of origin
Manchester
Order this imageCollection
Borrowdale, Cumbria
NT 771084
Summary
Flotation cells for rough separation of Zinc ore. Receives slurry from classifier via slurry pump (NT/FC032). This is dosed with a detergent-like 'collector' chemical and agitated. Zinc particles attach themselves to the collector chemical and become water-repelling (hydrophobic). As the contents of the cells are agitated and aerated, foam is created and the hydrophopbic particles rise with this to the top, where the foam is scraped off by the paddles. The zinc rich foam is sparged with water jets and passes to the Fine zinc flotation cells (NT/FC023) on Level 4B. The remaining liquid is passed to the Rough barytes flotation cells (NT/FC027) on Level 4. Comprises a steel tank with two flotation cells, with agitators inside. rubber composition perforated skirt agitators. Each agitator driven by separate electric motor, one via three V belts, the other via two. An additional motor drives paddles via an enclosed chain drive. Steel trough collects foam. Sparging pipe missing. Sheet steel guards to agitator drive belting (removed but on floor nearby).
Marks and inscriptions
WEMCO (cast on vertical agitator shaft supports)
Makers and roles
Wemco Ltd, manufacturer